Bruce Bennett
Forum Replies Created
-
Sir Hamilton,
I personally have not done any TV pilots or shows, but a couple of my colleagues have. From what I’ve learned, the number one component that determines success is “Distribution.”
You can have the best idea for the best show on the face of the earth, but if you don’t have distribution lined up, then it makes it very hard to convince potential investors to spend their money with you.One company that takes programming to Cable TV is “CABLEready.” Their Website is http://www.cableready.net. I hear that most such type companies require high-end production values and formats (like digiBeta and HDCAM).
Good luck,
BruceBruce Bennett,
Bennett Marketing & Media Production, LLC – http://www.bmmp.com -
Bob,
Yeah, it’s good to have your contact info on “client approvals.” For a few reasons…one: for that recognition, two: it makes it easy for the to order more copies form you, and three: for technical support if they need it while on the road.
I work with Rich Rubasch at Tilt Media for lots of stuff. He has been on the COW for a long time (and I think he hosts a few a these posts) (wow, I’m not only a writer, but a poet). Rich uses an Epson 4-color inkjet printer that really rocks and produces great results. Maybe you could find him on the COW and email him to find out what he bought. If you invest $ into such a beasty, then you can get low run DVD copy jobs and it probably would pay for itself after a couple of jobs.
Bruce
Bruce Bennett,
Bennett Marketing & Media Production, LLC – http://www.bmmp.com -
Bob,
When I started in the biz 14 years ago, I used to think the same thing as you are now: “I wish I could put my name on this great video so I can get some recognition.”
Now, when I look at the stuff I produced during my “early years” I say to myself, “Man, I’m glad that I didn’t put my name on this stuff even though it was very good for that time in my career development.”
Just my own personal thoughts – take if for what you think it’s worth 🙂
Bruce
Bruce Bennett,
Bennett Marketing & Media Production, LLC – http://www.bmmp.com -
Wow Tim. It seems like you have a lot of knowledge on this topic. It’s a little over my head (and the main reason why I hire an accountant), but I hope it helps “geo” in deciding whether to go with LLC or DBA.
One thing that I’ve learned, it doesn’t matter how you classify your business, some companies (usually the ones with big checks) require their vendors to have a $1 million general liability policy no matter what. Plus, I have a couple of clients who do not do business with DBAs just because there is too much risk of the feds considering “non coporates” as “employees of the company” during an audit.
Bruce
Bruce Bennett,
Bennett Marketing & Media Production, LLC – http://www.bmmp.com -
Lots of good advice so far. When I started out 14 years ago, I worked 20-hours a week for free at a post house while putting in 40-hours at my paying job. After 6 months, I was hired as a sales guy with the opportunity to advance into production. The post house was a “lower end” house that shot on S-VHS and posted on 3/4-inch while most competitors shot and edited on Betacam SP (in my market, there was no digiBeta, D2, D1 or HDTV back then).
What I did was find smaller, cheaper-speding businesses that didn’t mind cheaper, lower-format quality productions. Eight years later, some clients grew with our business to Betacam SP and Avid editing, others dropped off because they didn’t want to pay for better quality. In my experience, smaller business care more about ROI, content, style and caftsmanship a lot more than what quality format you use.Good luck!
Bruce Bennett,
Bennett Marketing & Media Production, LLC – http://www.bmmp.com -
Mark has a great point. I worked for a Fortune 1000 company for 6 years and got to know the whole “corporate culture” very well. The corporation hired you – not the speakers. In my opinion, if you don’t ask/notify your paying client on what they want you to do, then you’ve crossed the line. Plus, in their eyes, they probably feel they own the whole thing and it’s not yours to sell/re-sell. You may get a lot more biz from the same client, you proabably won’t get any addtional biz from the speakers.
Bruce Bennett,
Bennett Marketing & Media Production, LLC – http://www.bmmp.com -
After working 14 years for Corporate America, I was “downsized” and decided to start my own biz in April of this year. I formed an LLC, and in my opinion is the way to go if you plan on being in biz for yourself as a “sole employee” for a really long time.
I set up as an LLC and filed as an S-Corp (you can do both). LLC gives you the protection of a corporation (i.e., Corp, inc.) and S-Corp filing allows you to take dividens without paying Social Security on them (although the gov wants you to be reasonable when establishing a salary and taking dividends – you can’t make up a $10K annual salary and then pay yourself $20K in addtional dividends).
With an LLC, you HAVE to assign yourself a salary and pay yourself that salary – else you’re out of biz in the government’s eyes. Also, you pay 2x the taxes on your salary – the biz pays federal and Medicare, and you as an employee also pay federal and mediacare – double whammy.
So, now personally, my definition between “owning your own business” and being a “freelancer” has been defined in a whole new light – lit by good old Uncle Sam.
Good Luck!
Bennett Marketing & Media Production, LLC – http://www.bmmp.com